France could retain the Six Nations title with a round to spare as they take on Scotland at Murrayfield.
The defending champions have been a class apart so far in the competition, following up a significant opening-round win over Ireland with successes against Wales and Italy.
Three bonus-point wins thus far have left them top of the table with 15 points, and another victory by four tries or more would make certain of the title.
Ireland’s hard-fought win over Wales last night has left them on 14 competition points and thus unable to reach more than 19, while Scotland sit in third on 11 points as they host the defending champions.
Even a high-scoring, narrow defeat for Scotland, and banking two bonus points, would not be enough to keep their hopes alive if France still win with a bonus point.
France host England in Paris on Six Nations “Super Saturday” as the final round of fixtures is held next weekend.
A championship success would be their eighth since the addition of Italy to the tournament in 2000, moving clear of England as the outright most successful side in that period.
It would be a 28th crown for France overall in the competition’s long lineage.
